Marketing Tactics

AKRON, Ohio — The USDA has chosen Purell green certified instant hand sanitizer foam as a featured product for the formal launch of its new BioPreferred label program.

USDA Deputy secretary Kathleen Merrigan made the announcement Thursday at a biobased product meeting in Glenwillow, Ohio.

WAYNE, N.J. — A company that specializes in "As Seen on TV" products has named a new chief operating officer.

Ron Boger, who currently serves as EVP of IdeaVillage, will take on the COO role. He will work with company founder Anand Khubani in launching new and innovative products in the mass market.

Boger is credited with bringing such products as SlimShots, Yoshi ceramic knife, Fushigi ball, and Criss Angel MindFreak magic kits and tricks and more under the IdeaVillage banner and into the mass market.

Orlando, Fla. -- Olive Garden plans to remodel or refresh more than half of its 700 plus restaurants across the United States to its new Tuscan farmhouse-inspired design.

Called “Via Tuscany,” the updated décor includes new tables, chairs and booths, a palette of warm, rustic tones and design elements of a farmhouse in Tuscany. Other updates include new window treatments.

AUSTIN, Texas — Proving that natural food stores have a sense of humor, Whole Foods hosted a faux website homepage to celebrate April Fools' Day.

The homepage featured such items as "insects raised with compassion," stinky cheese lipstick and bizarre recipes. The retailer even featured a video about finding love at its stores on both the website and its Facebook fan page. Needless to say, it received many "likes."

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears announced that it has launched the Sears Blue Tool Crew "Do It Together" program to honor unsung heroes who use their tools and talents for the greater good of the community. According to Sears DIT is the national expansion of the "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference" Father's Day initiative that recognized dads across the country in 2010.  

MIAMI BEACH — While less consumers are seeking out private-label options this year, preplanning activities continue to be a priority, according to a new survey conducted by SymphonyIRI Group.

In SymphonyIRI's inaugural MarketPulse survey, the group found that 2-out-of-3 shoppers today are making shopping lists prior to visiting the store, while 56% are reading store fliers either before or at the store — statistics that are in line with trends noted in 2010.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic announced that it is giving consumers the chance to experience its 2011 line-up of home entertainment products during its six-week, 15-market "Panasonic Experience Amazing Tour."

The tour starts April 4 in New York and will make stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC over the next five weeks, through May 15.  

When Walmart executives speak about prices, inflation or the nation’s economic condition their comments create quite a stir, and that’s what we saw again this week when Bill Simon spoke to USA Today.